Today I’ll continue to show the pictures of pilgrim J.P. ten Bruggencate, who visited Athos last June.
The large kellion called Marouda, not far from Karyes and Skiti Andreou
View from the balcony, with the Serail in the background
A zoom in on the Serail. This corner of the building is still a ruin, the rest of the large building complex is newly renovated.
Father Makarios of Marouda
Marouda: Fresco from May 9th 1796 of the Panaghia with Child and two Saints: Ounofrios and Peter the Athonite
Marouda: The iconostasisMarouda: clocks with Father Makarios and Jan Paul ten Bruggencate
Skiti Andreou
Skiti Andreou – bells with the main church in scaffolds. The renovation of the domes is finished and and the gold shines again!
Skiti Andreou – the courtyard. Nowadays the old bells are protected by professional build roof.

This is what George told us about the bells in June 2009:

Hi Wim, I can confirm that these bells were removed from the enormous bell tower at the entrance of the sketes main church of St. Andrew. (definately not from the deserted Ukraine building near Skiti Provata)I remember ringing these bells on St. Andrews day in 1993 or 1994 with some co-students whilst we were studying at the Athonias Academy. At this time the bells were still hanging in the bell tower. In particular the large bell created a deep thunderous sound which we were later informed was heard clearly at the Skete of Prophet Ilias near Pantocratoros Monastery. The staircase leading up to the clock and bells is very narrow and winding. Its a beautiful church and skete, I cannot wait untill it is returned to its former glory.

Skiti Andreou – relic: a piece of the skull of …. ?
The magnificant iconostasis of the 111 years old church
The entrance to Athos Academy: Athonias

Wim, 19/7

(from 21/7/2011 I’ll be on a 3-week holiday visiting Sri Lanka with wife and daughters: Greece/Athos is to hot for me, today the temperature in Vatopedi reached 37 degrees!)